Adeste In-Home Care - Colorado

In-Home Care in Colorado

Spring Cleaning For Caregivers – Did You Remember?

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The concept of spring cleaning was born many years ago, when our houses weren’t as secure and well built. Spring cleaning was a way of removing the dark, sooty grime that built up from using candles, kerosene lamps and wood stoves throughout the winter.

Even though our heating practices are much safer and secure in today’s world, the idea of spring cleaning is still engrained in our society. The idea of bringing fresh, clean air into our homes is exciting. Putting away blankets and quilts and making room for beach towels instead can bring instant gratification.

Even as we age, we can benefit from spring cleaning throughout our homes. And as a caregiver, spring cleaning can shed light on how your loved really is doing.

Cabinets, drawers, and files

Start with the desk. If your loved one has a computer, help them organize files and photographs. Check email and clean out inboxes. You can also delete items in the trash. [Read more…]

Fighting Loneliness: Why It Matters To Your Health

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

At least that’s what the songs on the radio tell us. But for many seniors, it’s anything but. This bustling time of the year is now filled with melancholic reflections and hours of solitude. The children have grown up and moved away. Friends are getting older. People are simply “doing their thing.” And the pile of party invitations and holiday cards gets shorter every year.

Maybe we should change the tune to: It’s the loneliness time of the year.

Expectations are highest this time of year, thanks in part to holiday music and ideal family movies. Doesn’t everyone have the perfect family that does everything together this time of year? It’s easy to think you’re the only one that feels isolated.

And loneliness can also be more. Rather than just being a response to the current happenings, it can also be a profound reminder of emotional experiences and traumas from long ago; triggers that remind you of things you’d rather not remember.

Avoid Media

Jump onto Facebook and you’ll see everyone living in perfect situations. The news shares stories of how we’re doing everything together. The last thing you need when you’re feeling melancholy is to have everyone else’s “happiness” splashed in your face. Avoid it. Pull out your favorite movies instead. Read a book. Or phone a friend. In most cases, avoiding the holidays can help you stay more positive throughout the season. [Read more…]

Nutrition Tips: Stay Hydrated and Eat More Protein

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nutrition-tips

Want to know what keeps more seniors sick and unhealthy? It’s their diets.

Good nutrition means staying hydrated and getting the proper amount of nutrients each day, including enough protein. And unfortunately, that’s where many seniors go wrong.

Yes, it may be difficult to eat when you’re not hungry. Many seniors also take a variety of medicines that can reduce appetite and taste.

And yes, it may be even more difficult eating alone. Especially if you’ve been used to cooking for two for many years.

But as a caregiver, it’s important to watch your loved one’s diet and make sure intake is where it should be each day.

If you’ve ever visited the doctor with your loved one, you’ve probably heard him or her say things like “increase your hydration” or “consume more protein” as a recommendation, especially after prescription changes or with changes in health. But rarely do they give advice on what that truly means. They rarely help you understand why and how to do this. [Read more…]

It’s Time For A Yearly Checkup: What A Senior Should Have Every Year

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Time For A Yearly Checkup What A Senior Should Have Every Year

Annual checkups. It’s something we get used to from the time we’re born.

Every year we head to the doctor’s office for a routine visit. We expect certain things to take place. And while that changes over time, it’s always a good idea to monitor things over time. But do we actually do it every year? And even if you go in, are the right tests being performed?

Yearly visits can help find certain conditions early. And with early intervention, it can help your loved one remain healthier over time. Medicare covers many of the tests that should be done each year; check with your plan.

Some tests should be completed on a yearly basis. Depending on certain symptoms you may be exhibiting, having a yearly comparison is a great way to see if things are changing, to find areas of concern. These tests include: [Read more…]

Vitamin, Mineral and Over-The-Counter Safety Guide

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Vitamin Mineral and OverTheCounter Safety Guide

Are you worried your loved one isn’t getting the right nutrients every day?

Are they getting weaker? Are they tired throughout the day? Do they sleep irregularly?

No matter what our age or level of activity, we all need a healthy supply of nutrients every day. Calorie intake should go down, but the level of nutrient dense foods, the vitamins and minerals we take in are still needed.

It’s true that the best way we can take in all we need is through nutritious foods. But that’s not always possible. Often, seniors have a very difficult time eating enough foods to meet the daily requirements. Which is why many seniors and caregivers turn to supplements.

But what forms of vitamin and mineral supplements are appropriate? What do you need to know before you make your first purchase and open up that first bottle?

Read all labels and follow the dosing instructions. Just because you can purchase them at your favorite local store doesn’t mean they can’t do more harm than good. You can overdose on certain nutrients, and some minerals can be toxic when taken in excessive amounts.

Be sure to buy from a reputable source. Supplements do not have the same level of regulation as prescription medication. Some supplements may come from unreliable sources that do not provide what they say they are. Do your research.

Be aware of everything in the supplement you choose. Many manufacturers use fillers or ingredients such as sugar or artificial colors that some seniors can’t tolerate. [Read more…]

Caring and Caregiving: How To Benefit From Alternatives

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Caring and Caregiving

From the moment your loved one was diagnosed, you’ve been feeling the pressure. You consistently take on more work. Your days are busier than ever. You can’t even imagine the last time you had a break.

Take care of yourself? Yeah, right. There aren’t enough hours in the day. Doctors’ visits. Appointments. Running around. Daily tasks. And that’s all before you get into the stuff you need to do … things like working eight hours a day, taking care of your family, taking care of you.

It’s fairly easy to see which of those tasks will get left behind.

After all, you have to make sure everyone else is taken care of. Others needs become more important than your own.

Or are they?

When our lives change, we experience stress. When we face situations new to us, we become overwhelmed. When we face the great unknown, it begins impacting us and all of those around us in a very big way.

And it’s understandable.

Traditional medicine says to treat the source of the problem, yet leaves little guidance for all else. So if your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s for example, traditional medicine begins providing medicine to counter the symptoms and potentially slow the process.

But what about alternatives? [Read more…]

7 Nutrition Myths We Believe About Aging

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7 Nutrition Myths We Believe About Aging

“Mom doesn’t eat the way she used to.”

We hear comments like that all the time. As a person ages, their eating habits change. And while it’s easy to justify it in your mind that it’s merely a symptom of aging, and our bodies don’t require the same caloric intake they once did, the fact is we still require high quality, healthy foods in order to survive.

Certain food myths have become engrained in our society. And while some of them may seem to make a lot of sense, they are simply not true. A body needs quality, healthy foods every day. Have you fallen into one of these traps?

Myth #1 People lose their appetite as they age

While it’s true people don’t need as much food as they age because energy typically decreases, a loss of appetite is not normal. If your loved one consistently says they aren’t hungry and avoids meal times, it may be a sign of a more serious problem. It may be a decrease sense of taste, or dental problems that make eating painful. If you notice quick changes in weight or a decreased pattern of wanting to share in mealtime, a visit to the doctor may be in order. [Read more…]

How Pets Play Into The Caregiving Role

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How Pets Play Into The Caregiving Role

Pets are a big part of our lives, no matter how young or old we may be. But as we age, having a pet takes on new meaning. Pets provide companionship, which can be especially important when a person can no longer leave the home as frequently as they did when they were younger.

Not only do they provide a sense of physical release, they also provide a healthy mental release as well. Studies show pets:

  • Can lower blood pressure
  • Can improve socialization – taking them for a walk gets them out of the house
  • Provide unconditional love
  • Reduce isolation and depression that is associated with seniors living alone
  • Keeps a person here in the now, rather than worrying about the future

Yet with all of those benefits, pets present a different set of issues when it comes to caregiving too. [Read more…]

How To Continue Motivating An Elderly Loved One

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How To Continue Motivating An Elderly Loved One

One of the hardest tasks for any caregiver or family member to take on is to continue motivating an elderly loved one and encourage them to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Many experiences have the opportunity to bring a person down: losing friends you’ve known for years, losing a spouse, receiving a diagnosis, or in general not feeling the best with little chance of improvement. All of that adds into a mental state that can be difficult to remain energized and full of life.

While communication is an important skill to have when you are caring for a loved one – both talking and listening – it’s also important to help boost the level of motivation an elderly person has from one day to the next.

Start With A Daily Routine

We all have things we do every day, from the time we’re tiny babies on up. We get up, we get dressed and ready for our day, we eat breakfast, we do daily activities. The process shouldn’t be any different even if you have moved into a caregiving phase. Get up at the same time every day. Get dressed and ready for the day. Eat breakfast and take medications at a similar time. Work in an exercise routine or two. Plan out an outing, a craft project, or other fun activity at a certain time. Keep things fresh and interesting. The more you build into the routine, the more enjoyable it becomes, the more a person has to look forward to as they go to sleep each night in anticipation of the day to come. [Read more…]

Caregiving With Safety In Mind During National Safety Month

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Caregiving With Safety In Mind During National Safety Month

Each June, the National Safety Council celebrates National Safety Month as a way to raise awareness about safety issues within the home. This year the focus is on “What I Live For”, with special emphasis placed on many things facing today’s caregivers every day: prescription painkiller abuse, transportation safety, ergonomics, emergency preparedness, and slips, trips and falls.

As a caregiver, your time is divided between all of the activities involved in caring for the one you love, while at the same time preventing future problems before they arise. Awareness is key. Here are a few safety tips to help put these key safety issues into play within your home.

Prescription Painkiller Abuse

Did you know that 44 people die every day from prescription painkiller overdose? Prescription painkillers include Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet, Morphine and more. While prescription painkillers are often prescribed to seniors as a part of ongoing treatment to eliminate pain, they can become addictive and lead to more trouble, with undesirable side effects that may not include controlling pain. If the person you are caring for requires painkillers, request the smallest dosage possible for the shortest time possible. Explore other options, especially non-pharmacudical treatments or over the counter medications. Be sure to talk with a pharmacist about combining painkillers with other medications your loved one may be on. [Read more…]